Tractor rear assembly



Sept. 2, 1941. c. E. FRUDDEN |:r AL

TRACTOR REAR ASSEMBLY Original Filed May 1'7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l HEJV c. E. FRUDDEN ETAL 2,254,360

TRACTOR REAR ASSEMBLY i sept. 2, 1941. 4

Original FilediMay 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 2, 1941.

C. E. FRUDDEN ETAL TRACTOR REAR ASSEMBLY original Filed May 17, 1939 ssheets-sheet s Patented Sept. 2,

TRACTOR REAR ASSEMBLY Conrad E. Frudden and Walter F. Strehlow,Wauwatosa, Wis., assignors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company,Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Y original sppuctionrny 17,1939, serial No.

Divided and thisapplication February 21, 1940, Serial No. 320,106

(Cl. 180--1ll- '9 Claims.

' 'I'he invention relatesV to motor vehicles, and it is concerned morespecically with an improved farm tractor. The present application is adivision of application Serial No. 274,164, filed on May 17, 1939, byConrad E. Frudden and Walter F. Strehlow, for Tractor.

During long periods of continuous operation of a tractor, as in plowing,the driver should be seated comfortably and be able to drive the tractorconveniently in a sitting position, and if the tractor is equipped withfront-mounted earth working tools, as in cultivating, the driver shouldmoreover be able to observe the work of the tools from the seat withoutassuming an uncomfortable position. It is the main object of theinvention to provide a tractor of improved construction which meetsthese requirements.

Amore specic object of the invention is -to provide an improved rearassembly for a tractor which is constructed to afford a wide range of l'forward vision from the drivers seat, the range of forward vision beingpreferably such as to include a plant row extending centrally betweenthe transversely spaced rear wheels of the tractor and particularly aportion of such plant row between the front and rear ends of thetractor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fender andseat equipment for a tractor. The improved equipment, as contemplated bythe invention, preferably includes a supporting structure for thefenders and seat, which is suiliciently strong and so constructed andarranged that it may conveniently be used, if desired, to connect animplement thereto, such, for instance', as a push-type cultivator or anunderslung plow.

Still another object of the invention is to pro` vide an improvedtractor rear assembly including fender and seat equipment, whichistsimplev and compact in construction, conveniently assembled anddisassembled, and which may be manufactured at relatively low costs.

- I'hese and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Refen'ing to the drawings accom-- panying and forming part ofthis specication, and in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. l is a side view of a row-crop tractor, the left rear wheel andpart of the rear axle structure at the left side of the tractor beingomitted for a better disclosure of the rear part of the tractor;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the front axle structure of the tractor shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the rear end of the trac- .tor shown in Fig. 1,the propelling wheels, seat Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on an enlargedscale. through part of the rear axle structure of the tractor shown inFig. 1, the section being taken on line V-V of Fig. 3 and showing partsomitted in Fig. -1;

Fig. 6 is a view on line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective rear view of the tractor shown in Flgpl, theview being taken from a point rearwardly of and above the tractor.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line VIII- VIII of Fig. 1, showing partsincluding an L-.shaped support at the left side of the tractor, whichparts are omitted in Fig. l.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 7, axially spaced front wheels I and 2 ofthe tractor are mounted on opposite ends of ,an upwardly arched frontaxle I by means of steeringknuckles 4 and 5,

respectively. Upper arms of the steering knuckles are connected by a tierod 6 which is also arched upwardly so4 as to leave the ground clearanceafforded by the upwardly arched front axle 3 substantially unobstructed.A plate 1- is secured to the forward end of a motor block 8 by bolts'(not shown) extending through bolt holes 1', and a pivot pin 9 securedto the plate 1 extends through the upper transverse portion of the frontaxle 3, permitting transverse rocking movement of the front axlerelative to the motor block. A collar Ill secured to the pin 9 retainsthe front axleml against axial displacement on the pin 9. 'I'he motorblock 8 forms part of an internal combustion engine which is ofgenerally conventional design and therefore requires no detaileddescription,- the crank shaft Il of the internal combustion engine beingindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A radiator and shell I2 aresupportingly connected with fthe motor block by a suitable bracketstructure (not shown), and a hood I3 is supported at its forward end onthe radiator shell I2. A bottom opening of thejmotor block l is closedby an oil pan I4.

Secured to the rear of the motor block 8 by means of bolts I5 is atorque tube casing I8 which comprises a` rearwardly tapering bellhousing immediately adjacent to the motor, and a relatively llongtubular portion extending reardownward enlargement at its lrear end asshown in Fig. 1, and the portion of the torque tube cas- 5 ing extendingbetween the bell housing and the rearward enlargement has a heightsubstantially equal to its width, as may be seen from Figs. 1 and 7.

A gear casing I1 shown'in Figs. 1 and 3, is se- 10 cured to the rear endof the torque tube casing I 0, studs lsecured in the gear casing I1projecting forwardly through a flange I3 of the torque tube casing I3,and' nuts beingscrewed upon the studs to hold the torque tube casing I315 and gear casing I1 rigidly together. The two casings I0 and |1 form ahousing which extends longitudinally of the tractor, the transversewidth of the gear casing I1 being somewhat larger than the transversewidth of the tubular portion of the torque tube casing I0, as may beseen from Fig. 3.

The gear casing |1 forms the central part of an upwardly arched rearaxle structure which extends transversely of the tractor and on whichthe rear wheels 20 and 2| of the tractor are mounted. Secured to eachside of the gear casing I1 is an L-shaped support comprising a hori`zontal hollow armv22 shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and a depending casingportion 23 shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 8. The arms 22 of the L-shapedsupports are bolted to opposite sides of the gear cas- .ing I1 andextend laterally from the rear portion thereof, and the rear wheels 20and 2|v are mounted on the depending casing portions 23 of theL-supports, each depending casing portion having an opening 24 (Fig. 8)in which a supporting axle for the respective rear wheel is mounted, asindicated at 25 in Figs. 1 and 8. The casing portion 23 of eachL-support is closed at the bottom by a cover 20, as shown in Fig. 1.

Power is transmitted from the forward engine unit including the crankshaft to the rear wheels 20 and 2| by suitable mechanism including aclutch 21 within the bell housing of the torque tube casing` I0; apropeller shaft 20 extending through the torque tube casing andconnectable with and disconnectable from the crank shaft II by theclutch 21; change speed mechanism within the forward portion of the gearcasing I1 drivingly connected with the propeller shaft 20 and operableby a gearshift lever 29: dlnerential gearing |00 (Fig. 8) enclosedwithin the rear portion of the gear casing I1: a pair of drive shafts 30connected with the differential gearing and extending through the arms22, respectively, of the L-supports; one drive shaft which extendsthrough the arm 22 of the L-sup` port at the left side of the casing I1being shown in Figs. 5 and 8; and final drive gearing |01 (Fig. 8)enclosed within the casing pon-tions 23 and connecting the drive shafts30 with the axles of the wheels 20 and 2| at opposite sides,respectively, of the tractor. Each of the L-supports has a pair ofbearing openings 3l, in which the 65 outer end of the respective driveshaft 30 is journaled, and the horizontal arm 22 of each L-support isenlarged near the depending casing 423 to form a brake compartment 32which has an opening 33 at the top of the arm 22, as best shown in Fig.4.

Enclosed within the brake compartment 32 of the L-suppont at the leftside of the tractor is a brak`e drum 34 which is non-rotatably securedto the shaft 30 by means of a key 33 and a Set Screw 'I5 94 as shown inFigs. 5 and 6. A brake band 35 for cooperation with the brake drum 34 isanchored at one end on a pin 95 which is supported at its ends on theleft L-support in a pair of alined holes one ,of which is indicated at36 in Fig. 4. Another pin 31, forwardly of the pin 95, is likewisesupported in a pair of alined holes one of which is indicated at. 38 inFig. 4, and a rocker 99 carrying a brake lever 30 is .pivotaily mountedon the pin 31 within the upper part of 'the brake compartment 32. 'I'herocker 33 has a bifurcated portion which carries a pin |00, and a rodIOI extends at right angles to the axis of the pin |00 through adiametrical bore of the latter between the wings of the bifurcatedportions of the rocker 99. The rod |0I is secured to ,the free end ofthe -brake band 35 and has a threaded portion projecting beyond the pin|00, which threaded portion carries a pair of nuts |02 for retaining therod IOI against sliding movement out of the pin |00 in one direction. Aspring |03 is hooked at one end 'over the free end of the rod |0I, andthe other end of they spring I 03 is anchored on the forward wall of thebrake compartment 32. the spring |03 being initially tensioned to exerta permanent pull on the rod I0| which pull tends to swing the rocker 39and brake lever 30 in a clockwise or forward direction, as viewed inFig. 6, about the pin 31.

In order to brake the left rear wheel of the direction, as viewed inFig. 6, which movement of-the hand lever 38 is transmitted to the rodIOI due to engagement of the pin |00 with the adjacent nut |02, and theresulting pull on the rod IOI causes the brake band 35 to be tightenedon the brake drum 34. After the brake band has been tightened to thedesired extent the lever 30 may be locked against forward swingingmovement by means of a latch 92 which is pivoted at |04 on a stud 45projecting upwardly from the left L-support near the forward edge of thetop opening 33. The brake lever 30 has a series of circumferentialgrooves |05, and in order to lock the lever 30. after the brake has beentightened the latch 0.2 is swung by hand about its pivot center |04 in arearward direction so as to engage its free end with one of thecircumferential grooves |05. Fig. 6 shows the latch 32 in position tolock the brake lever 30. In order to unlock the brake lever 30 theoperator may first relieve the load on the latch 92 by rearward pull onthe lever 33. and he may then swing the latch 92 forwardly about itspivot center |04 into a position where it is out of the path of movementof the lever 33.

-The brake mechanism for the left rear wheel of fthe tractor, whichv hasbeen described hereinbefore is duplicated at the right side of thetractor for braking the right rear wheel, that is, the right L-supporthas a brake compartment 32 as shown in Fig. 3, which encloses a brakedrum. brake band and operating mechanism of the same construction as hasbeen described hereinbefore in connection with the brake compartment 32of the left Lsupport. A brake lever 31 (Figs. 1 and '1) corresponding tothe brake lever 33 extends upwardly from the right L-support, and thebrake mechanism at the right side of the tractor is so arranged that itsbrake band will be tightened by rearward pull on the hand Vlever 31. Theright and left brake mechanisms both may be operated simultaneously forstopping the tractor, in conformity with established practice.

A transverse tubular bar 38 of square crosssection as shown in Fig. 1extends through a square opening in the downward enlargement at the rearend of the torque tube casing I6, the downward enlargement being at theunder side of the torque tube casing, and the transverse bar being drawninto the upper rearward corner of the square opening by two diagonalbolts 39, one at each side of the downward enlargement of the torquetube casing I6. A clip 48 is interposed between the bar 38 and the headof the bolt 39, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide a proper seat for thehead of the bolt 33 at the left side of the tractor laterally of thedownward enlargement of the torque tube casing I6, and the shank of saidbolts extends diagonally through the bar 38 and is screwed into a tappedlug 4I projecting laterally from the left side wall of the downwardenlargement of the casing I6. The

46 of the beam 43, the aperture 43 accommodating the brake lever 31shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

The beams 42 and 43 extend forwardly from the respective arms 22 of 'theL-supports in a horizontal direction approximately up to the verticalplane of the flange I9 at the rear of the torque tube casing I6. Theportions of the beams extending forwardly from said plane are curveddownwardly, as shown for the beam 42 in Fig. 1, and the lower end ofthey downwardly curved portion of the beam 42 is secured to the outerend of the transverse bar 38 at the right side of the tractor by a boltand nut I), while the lower end of the-downwardly curved portion of thebeam 43 is secured to the outer end of the transverse bar 38 at the leftside of the tractor by a bolt and nut 5I. 'Ihe vertical side flange ofthe beam 42 is spaced from the vertical side other bolt 39 which extendsdiagonally through the bar 38 at the right side of the tractor isarranged in the same manner as has just been described in connectionlwith the bolt 39 at the leftv side of the tractor. The transverse `bar38 is located forwardly of the 'arms 22 of the: L-supports, and it will-be noted from Fig. 3 that the portion of the bar 38 which extends fromthe left side of the torqu'e tube casing I6 terminates in front of thebrake compartment 32 of the arm 22 at the left side of the tractor,while the portion of the bar 38 which extends from the right side of theltorque tube casing I6 terminates in front of the brake compartment 32of the arm 22 at the right side of the tractor. The square opening inthe downward enlargement of the torque tube casing I6 through which thetransverse bar 38 extends, is sulciently large to permit ready axialmovement of the bar 38 for purposes of assembly prior to theinstallation of the bolts 39.

A longitudinal beam 42 extends transversely of the arm 22 of :theL-support at the right side of the tractor in laterally spaced relationto the gear casing I1, and a similar beam 43 which is laterally spacedfrom the gear casing I1 at the left side'of the tractor extendstransversely of the arm 22 of the left L-support. As shown in Figs. 5and 6 the beam 43 is made of angle iron and it is mounted on top of thearm 22, the

' horizontal flange of the angle iron extending over the top opening 33of the brake compartment 32 and being secured in position on the arm 22by a bolt 44 and by the stud 45. The stud 45 is screwed into a tappedlug formed on the for-- Ward wall of the brake compartment 32, and a nut45' is screwed upon the stud 45 to hold the beam 43 down. An opening 46(Fig. 3) in the horizontal flange of lthe beam 43 registers with the topopening 33 of the brake compartment 32 flange of the beam 43 a distanceslightly 'greater mentioned inwardly extending vertical ange portions ofthe beams 42 and 43, respectively.

Each of the beams 42 and- 43 also has a rear i portion which extendshorizontally in the longitudinal direction of the tractor rearwardlyfrom Vto accommodate the brake lever 36 and part of the mechanismconnected therewith, as shownl in Fig.` 6. A sheet metal cover 9| forthe openi ing 46 is held in place by the bolt 44 and by the stud and nut45'. The beam 42, like the beam 43, is made of angle iron, and the beam42 is mounted on the arm 22 of the right L-support in the same manner ashas just been described in connection with the beam 43. That is, thebeam 42 is secured to the right L-support by a bolt 41 and a stud 48corresponding to the bolt 44 and stud 45, and it has an aperture 49 -inits horizontal flange corresponding to the aperture the horizontal arm22 of the respective Lsup' transverse bars 52 and 53 from below at theopl posite ends of the latter. The downwardly extending side ange of thelongitudinal bar 54 is secured tothe vertical ange of the beam 42 by apair of'bolts 56, and the downwardly extending side ange of thelongitudinal barJ 55 is secured to the vertical flange of the beam 43 bya pair of bolts 51. A seat cushion 58 rests on the horizontal flanges ofthe transverse bars 52 and 53, as shown in Fig. 1, the seat cushionbeing retained against forward or backward sliding movement by theupstanding front and rear flanges of the transverse bars 52 and 53,respectively. The seat cushion isof considerable width transversely, ofthe tractor, as shown in Fig. 7, the width of the seat cushion beingsubstantially equal to thetransverse spacing between the verticaliianges of the beams 42 and 43. A back rest 59 is secured to a pair ofspring arms 60 which are secured to the transverse frame bars 52 and 53from below, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7.

The horizontal anges of the beams 42 and 43 extend in a horizontal planesubstantially above the axis of the rear wheels 20 and 2l, and the `rearwheels extend upwardly beyond said plane,

or in other words, the mentioned plane extends horizontally below thetops of the rear wheels, as may be seen from Figs. 1 and '7. Secured tothe beams 42 and 43, respectively, are stub fenders 6I and 62 shown inFig. y'1, and the relation of the fender 62 to the mentioned plane as`indicated in Fig. 1 is the same as the relation of the fender 6l to saidplane. Each fender has a bottom portion which extends along thevrespective beam 42 or 43 on which it is mounted, from front to rear,and the bottom edge of each fender includes a relatively long straightand horizontal portion extending in proximity of the mentioned plane. Atthe front, the bottom portion of the fender extends approximately to apoint laterally of the intersection of the periphery of the respectiverear wheel 26 or 2I with the mentioned horizontal plane, and at the rearthe bottom portion of the fender extends beyond the periphery of therespective rear wheel as shown in Fig. l. A major portion of the fenderabove its bottom portion is curved away from the vertical plane of theupstanding angle iron flange to which the fender bottom is secured, thecurvature being in the direction towards the respective propelling wheel20 or 2| as clearly shown in Fig. '1. The bolts 56 and 51 which securethe seat frame to the beams 42 and 43 also pass through the bottomportions of the fenders, additional bolts 63 (Fig. 6) being provided tohold the fenders securely in position on the vertical flanges of thebeams 42 and 43. Stay clips 64 are weldedto the insides of the fendersfacing the wheels and extend over the vertical flanges of the beams 42and 43 as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6.

It will be seen that the beams 42 and 43 and the transverse tubular bar38 provide a very rigid and substantial framework which is not. onlystrong enough to securely support the operators seat and the fenders,but which may also be utilized to attach implements to the tractor suchas a push-type cultivator or an underslung plow.

A push-typecultivator attachment, for instance, may be connected at itsrear with the tubular bar 38 and at the front with the bell housing ofthe torque tube casing I6, mounting pads 65 and' threaded bolt holes 66in the mounting pads, shown in Fig. l, being provided at opposite sidesof the bell housing for securing implement supports thereto. An.underslung plow attachment may be connected at its forward end to thetransverse bar 38 and at a rearward portion to the rear ends of theangle iron beams 42 and 43.

A trailing vehicle or drawn-behind implement, such as a wheeled plow, aharrow, or the like, are preferably hitched to a drawbar 61 shown inFigs. l and '1, the drawbar having opposite side arms connected at theirforward ends with the inner side walls of the final drive casings 23 ofthe L- supports at opposite sides of the arched-rear axle structure. Thedrawbar is pivotally adjustable up and down about pivot pins 68, eachpivot pin 68 being secured to one end of a latch 69 which has a bolthole at its other end. The pivot pin secured to the latch 69 extendsthrough a hole in the side arm of the drawbar into the side wall of therespective final drive casing, and a bolt 10 extending through the bolthole of the latch 65 and through one of a' series of holes 1I in theside arm of the drawbar is screwed into the side wall of the respectivenal drive casing.

A power take-oi mechanism 12 including a belt pulley 13 is secured tothe rear of the gear casing `I1, and it should be noted that the driversseat including the cushion 58 extends rearwardly from the rear axlestructure over the power take-olf mechanism, which is a desirablearrangement because it places the power take-off mechanism in a locationwhere it is out of the way of the driver.

The front wheels I and- 2 of the tractor are connected through suitablelinkage including a reach rod 14 with a steering arm 15 at the left sideof the tractor. 'I'he steering arm 15 is supported on a transverse shaftextending laterally from a steering gear casing 16 which is mounted ontop of the torque tube casing I6, and a steering column 11 extendsrearwardly and upwardly from the steering gear casing 16 and issupported forwardly of its rear end on a post I8 which is secured in therear end of the torque tube casing I6. A `steering wheel 19 at the rearend of the steering column 11 is arranged within easy reach of a driverseated on the cushion 58, the center'of the steering wheel 18 lying inthe longitudinal plane of symmetry of the tractor, as shown in Fig. '7.It should be noted that the brake levers 36 and 81, the gear shift lever28, and a 'clutch pedal 86 pivoted at 8| at the left side of the torquetube casing I6 are also within easy reach of a driver seated on cushion58. 'Ihe clutch pedal 88 is connected with the clutch 21 by an actuatingrod 82 which is pivoted on the clutch pedal at 83. Also pivoted on theclutch pedal at 83 is a latch 84 which may be swung manually intoengagement with the transverse bar 38 when the .clutch pedal isdepressed and it is desired to lock the clutch pedal in depressedposition in order to hold the clutch 21 out of engagement.

A streamlined fuel tank is mounted in an elevated position on the'torquetube casing I6 by means of a bracket 86 and a sheet metal support 81.The bracket 86 is bolted at its forward end to the bell housing of thetorque tube casing I6 and extends rearwardly under the .fuel tank, therear portion of the bracket being transversely enlarged to provide aseat of relatively large width transversely of the tractor. 'I'he fueltank rests on the seat of the bracket 86 and is retained thereon bymeansl of a metal 'strap 88 which is placed over the fuel tank andsecured at its ends tothe bracket 86. The sheet metal support 81comprises a pair of parallel vertical side walls extending between thetorque tube casing I6 and the bottom of the fuel tank 85; a 'rearwardlycurved rear wall connects the side walls of the support with each other.The side walls of the support are secured to the torque tube casing I6by screws 88, and the transverse width of the sheet metal support 81 issomewhat shorter than the width of the tubular portion of the torquetube casing I6, as may be seen from Fig. 7. A clip 98 secured to thebottom ot the tank 85 rearwardly of the bracket 86 is fitted between thesidewalls of the sheet metal support and is secured thereto to sustainthe fuel tank at its rear end and to prevent it from fore and afttilting on the seat of the bracket 86.

A driver operating the tractor may take a rposition onvthe seat cushion58 more or less directly behind the steering wheel 18 and, straddlingthe gear casing yI1 and the rear end of the torque tube casing I6 withhis feet, he may rest his right foot on the portion of the transversebar which extends laterally from the torque tube casing I6 at the rightside of the tractor, and his left foot on the portion of the bar 38which extendsfrom the torque tube casing I6 at the left side of thetractor. When so seated the driver will be entirely comfortable and hemay drive the tractor conveniently-in a sitting position. In thementioned position the driver will also have a relatively wide range ofvision of the ground ahead of hiin, which not only affords him a goodview of the field at some distance ahead of the tractor, but alsoenables him to focus his eyes on a plant on the ground between the frontwheels and to observe such plant while the tractor proceeds until theplant disappears under the cross bar 3B and under the rear axlestructure. The plant, in order to ,be within the driver's range ofvision, does not have to stand relatively close to the tread line of oneor the other of the front of the rear axle structure, the driver will beable.

. erally in opposite directions from said rearward' to observe a plantrow on line A below the motor l block 8 and the torque tube casing I6,and neither the fuel tank 85, nor the bracket 86 nor the sheet metalsupport 81 will interfere with such visibility of a plant row on line A.When seated directly centrally behind the steering wheel the driver hasto move his head toward one side or the other in order to see line Abelow the motor and torque tube casing, but in doing so he does not haveto lean over uncomfortably towards one side or otherwise assume a tiringposition while driving the tractor. It will also be noted that the yseatcushion 58 is relatively wide transversely of the tractor and that thedriver may, if he wants to, move over from the central position behindthe steering wheel either to the right or to the left in order to haveplants on line A between the front and rear ends of the tractor underconvenient observation. In other words, the driver may be seated on thecushion 5B between the wheels and 2l in a laterally offset positionrelative to the gear casing I1. Since the drivers vision at the leftside of the tractor is slightly obstructed by the reach rod 14 andsteering arm 'I5 he will preferably look down at the right side cf thetractor, and the seat cushion 58 is wide enough that he may move towardsthe right into a convenient position to observe the ground under thetractor from a point at the right side of a vertical plane through lineA.

In the tractor described hereinabove the motor block 8 and the gearcasing i1 are connected with each other by thel torque tube casing Itwithout the use of any auxiliary connecting members such as sidechannels at opposite sides oi the tractor, and the tractor may,`therefore. be termed a "frameless type tractor. The term vframeless isintended to indicate the absence cf a frame, such as side channels, forconnecting the engine unit with the rear axle structure, but it is notintended to exclude other frame elements, for instance, a'frame formountingthe lmotor on the front axle structure and for c onnecting themotor unit with the torque tube casing. The tractor herein shown anddescribed is particularly adapted for work along a single plant row asindicated in Fig. 7 where the lines B and C indicate plant rowsatopposite sides of thel plant row A which is straddled by the tractor.

While in the foregoing a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenshown andl described, it should be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to the details of construction herein shown anddescribed, for various modications within the scope of the claims mayoccur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a tractor having a. forward engine unit and a hollow bodystructure including a relatively long and narrow .tubular memberextending longitudinally in rear of said engine unit, the combination ofa housing forming part of said hollow body structure in rear of saidtubular member and having forwardand rearward portions for enclosingchange speed and differential gear mechanisms, respectively, of saidtractor, rear wheel supporting arms extending latportion of saidhousing, rear wheels mounted, respectively, on said supporting arms, anoperatcrs seat in the space between the planes of said rear wheelshaving a. seating surface in rear of and above said tubular member, anda transverse bar mounted on said hollow body structure and extendinglaterally therefrom in advance of said differential gear housing belowthe level of said seating surface and at such spacing from said seatthat an operator occupying a sitting position on said seat may rest hisfeet on said transverse bar.

2. In a tractor having a forward engine unit and a hollow body structureincluding a relatively long and narrow tubular member extendinglongitudinally in rear of said engine unit, the coinbination of ahousing forming part of said hollow body structure in rear of saidtubular mem.- ber and having forward and rearward portions for enclosingchange speed and differential gear mechanisms, respectively, of saidtractor. rear wheel supporting arms extending laterally in oppositedirections from said rearward portion of said housing, rear wheelsmounted. respectively, on said supporting arms, an operators seat in thespace between the planes of said rear wheels having a seating surface inrear of y and above said supporting arms of such width transversely ofthe tractor that an operator may optionally seat himself thereon in acentral position between said rear wheels and in laterally offsetpositions at either side of said central position, supporting means forsaid seat including a pair of beams mounted on said supporting arms,respectively. in position to extend trans'- versely thereof, and atransverse bar connecting forward portions of said beams in advance ofsaid supporting arms, said transverse barbeing` mounted on said hollowbody structure below the level of said seating surface at such spacingfrom said seat that an operator occupying said central and lateralpositions may rest his feet on said transverse bar.

3. In a tractor having a forward engine unit,

a rear axle structure including a gear casing land a pair of groundwheels at opposite sides of said gear casing, a relatively long andnarrow tubular member connecting said engine unit with said gear casing,an operators seat in the space between the planes of said ground wheelshaving a seating surface rearwardly of and above said gear casing, and atransverse bar forwardly of said gear-casing, below the level of saidseating surface and at suchspacing from said seat that an operatoroccupying a sitting position on said seat may rest his feet onsaidtransverse bar.

4. In a tractor having a forward engine unit; a rear axle structureincluding4 a gear casing, a Pair of arms extending transversely of saidgear casing at opposite sides thereof,j and a pair of ground wheels atthe outer ends of said arms; a relatively long and narrow tubularmemberv connecting vsaid engine unit with said gear casing; anoperators'seat in the space between the Planes'of-said ground wheelshaving a seating surface `.rearwardly of and above said gear casing;andfa horizontal bar extending transversely of s'aidftubularmember inadvance of said gear casing, jbelow the level of said seating surfaceand'atsuch spacing from said seat that an operator occupying a sittingposition on said seat member, secured at its'opposite ends to saiddownwardly curved portions of said beams, said transverse bar beingpositioned below the level of saidseating'surface and at such spacingfrom said seat that an operator 'occupyina a sitting position on saidseat may rest his feet on said transverse bar.

arms at opposite sides, respectively, of said 'gear casing. and eachextending forwardly and rearwardly of said arms; an'operators seatmounted on the rearwardly extending portions of said longitudinal beamsand having a seating surface rearwardly of and above said arms; and atransverse bar connecting said longitudinal beams forwardly of saidarms, said transverse bar being positioned below the level of saidseating sur,

face and at such spacing from said seat that an operator occupying asitting position on said seat may rest his feet on said transverse b ar.

6. In a tractor having a forward engine unit; a rear axle structureincluding a gear casing, a pair of arms extending transversely of saidgear casing at opposite sides thereof, and a pair of ground wheels atthe outer ends, respectively, of said arms; a relatively long and narrowtubular member connecting said-engine unit with said gear casing; a pairof beamsmounted on said,

arms at opposite sides. respectively. of said gear casing, and eachextending forwardly and rearf wardly of said arms; an operators seatmounted on the rearwardly extending portions of said beams and having aseating surface rearwardly of and above said arms; and a'. trsverse barmounted in a transverse opening of said tubular member in advance ofsaid gear casing, said transverse bar being connected at its oppositeends to said beams and being positioned below the level of said seatingsurface and at suchV spacing from said seat that an operator occupying asitting position on said seat may rest his feet on said transverse bar.Y

7. In a tractor having a forward engine unit; a rear axle structureincluding a gear: casing.. a pair of arms extending transversely of saidgear casing at opposite sides thereof, and a pair` of ground wheels atthe outer ends, respectively,

of said arms; a relatively long and narrow tubu- 8.,In a tractor havinga forward engine unit, a rear axle structure including a gear casing, apair of arms extending transversely of said gear casing at oppositesides thereof, and a pair of ground wheels at the outer ends,respectively, of said arms; a relatively long and narrow tubular memberconnecting said engine unit with said gearcasing; a pair ofbeams-mounted on top of said arms at opposite sides, respectively, of.said gear casing, said beams extending horizontally and parallel toeach other forwardly and rearwardly from said arms and 4each having adownwardly curved portion in advance of said arms; an operators seatmounted on and extending transversely between said beams; a pair offenders for said ground wheels, mounted respectively on said beams atopposite ends of said seat; and a transverse bar mounted on said tubularmember, secured at its opposite ends to said downwardly curved portionsof said beams, said transverse bar being'positioned below the level ofsaid seatingsurface of said seat and at such spacing forwardlytherefrom, that an operator 4occupying a sitting position on Vsaid seatmay rest his feet on said transverse bar.

9. In a tractor, a forward engine unit; a wheeled front support for saidengine unit; a rear support comprising a pair of axially spaced rearwheels, a gear casing between said rear wheels, means including atransverse arm sup? portingly connecting one of said rear wheels withsaid gear casing in laterally spaced :relation thereto, and meanssupportingly connecting the other of said rear Iwheels with said gearcasing; a torque tube casing supportingly connecting said engine unitwith said gear casing and having a circumferential wall portion forminga tubular member of substantial length longitudinal- 1y of the tractorand of relatively short'width transversely ofthe tractor, between saidengine unit andsaid gear casing; means drivingly connecting said engineunit with said rear wheels including change speed and differentialmechanisms within said' gear casing, and a propeller shaft .within saidtorquetube casing for transrmitting power from said engine unit to saidchange speed mechanism; an loperators seat in thespace between theplanes of said rear wheels having a seating surface rearwardly of andabove the axis of said arm, on which an operator may seat himself in alaterally oil'set position relative to said' torque tube casing towardssaid one rear wheel, and an element extending transversely of saidtorque tube casingin advance of the axis of said arm, forwardly of andbelow said seat at such spacing therefrom that an operator vseated onsaid seat in said oil'set position may rest hisfeet on said transverseelement.

CONRAD E. FRUDDEN. WALTER F. S'I'REHLOW.

